Self-locking nut.



M. JACOBS.

SELF LOCKING NUT.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. I9. 1909.

982,502, Patenta Jan.24,1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mi l' 'I M. JACOBS. SELF LOCKING NUT.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.19. 1909.

5 SHEETS-sume.

982,502. y Patented Jan.24, 1911.

j'gxeo. I im f M. JACOBS.

SELF LOOKING NUT.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.19, 1909.

' 982,502. Patented .15.11.24, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

38 W//ww a5 l l wwwa-osea: @woei/lo@ IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 9.

982,502. Patentd Jan, 24, 1911.

s BBBBBBB s nur 4.

il??? {"lillfm SWU@ Wto/6 Mbna @13 attozumj i y UNITED. srA'rEs PrENr OEEiOE.

MORRIS JACOBS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SELF-LOCKING N UT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Paitinted Jan, 24, 1911.

Application filed October 19, 1909. Serial No. 523,449.

. To all whoml it may concern:

y the followingis a specification,

Be it known that I, MORRIS J Aoos, a citizenof the `United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, in

the county of Kings and State of `N ew York, yhave `invented certain new and useful 1inprovements in ,Self-Locking l'uts of which reiercnce be-y ing had the-rein to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

My invention relates to means for locking `cooperative screw-threaded parts, such as bolts and nuts, against unintentional or `accidental unscrewing, as often occurs as a result of vibrations and jars attendant with use, for example, on vehicles of Aall kinds,

railroad `fish-plates, bridges, agricultural machinery, engines, and in many other uses. The general objects of my invention are simplicity of construction, inexpensiveness `of manufacture and effectiveness of operation. f

More particular' objects of my invention are the employment of bolts of ordinary construction, secure locking of the arts without mutilation or injury, self-tigiteny ing of the parts when subjected to vibration,

`and ready intentional unscrewing ofthe parts without mutilation or injury.

In carrying out my invention I employ a freely sliding wedge carried by the nut and as viewed from the outer or screw end of the bolt and `shows the locking wedge at lookin position. Fig. 3 is a similar view, .but` with the locking wedge moved to nonlocking position. Fig. 4 is a nelevation of the nut equipped with the locking devices asvievvedfrom the bottom of Fig. 2, the bolt being omitted. Fig. 5 is a View similar ytoFig. 4, but with the locking devices re- I moved. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail showing, in section, the wedge pin in locking relation to the threads of' the bolt. Fig. 7 is a viewsimilar to Fig. but with the wedge pin at non-locking iosition. Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevation ot the locking wedge pin, portions being broken away.` Fi '.9 is a. view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified construction wherein the locking device is applied to asquare instead of to a hexagonal mit, portions being broken away and the holt being omitted. Fig. .l0 is a similar view of another slightly modified construction. Fig. 11 is an elevation of the nut shown in Fig. 10, portions boing broken away. Figs. l2 to 1S, inclusive, are views similar, respectively, to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, of another modified construction, excepting that in Fig. 1G the spring onlyis removed, the locking wedge being left in the nut. Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 13 and shows a slight modification of the nut shown iii Fig. 13, portions being broken away. Fig. 2O is a similar'vicw of another slightly modified construction. Figs. 21 to 27, inclusive, are views similar, resl iectively, to Figs. l2 to 18, inclusive, of anotlhei;` modified construction. Figs. 28 to 3l, inclusive, are views similar, respectively, to Figs. l2 to 18, inclusive, of another modified construction, 'excepting that Fig. 32 is an elevation of the nut as shown in Fig. 80 looking upward. Figs.

. 35 to 41, inclusive, are views similar, respec` tively, to Figs. 2S to 34, inclusive, of another modified construction.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, of the accompanying drawings, the ordinary bolt 1 has screwed thereon a self-locking nut 2, whichk is provided with locking means, The nut 2 has a cylindrical pin-receiving hole 3 extending through the nut transversely to the bolt-receiving aperture and communieating therewith substantially to the depth of the threads, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, portions of the threads ofthe mit being removed by the hole 3. The nut 2 is of the hexagonal type and is provided with an external transverse groove 4 extending across one side of the nut and partially across two adjacent sides, the terminal portions of the groove increasing in depth and the hole 3 opening at opposite ends into these deeper terminal portions of the groove. 'Contained in the pin-receiving hole '3 and extending to .i l.. .n l

the outside of the nut at bothends is a cylindrical locking wedge or wedge piu 5, having at its median portion a cut away or milled out portion 6 forming a. wedge transversely of the pin, adapted to iit'between two of the threads of the nut, as most clearly shownv in Figs. 1 and 6, the edge of this transverse wedge being slightly rounded, as shown most lclearly in Lthe enlarged views, Figs. 6 and 7. Also a Wedge is formed longitudinally of the wedge pin 5' (Fig.l 8),'

the Wedge portion 6 being v .roughened or knurled as indicated to morefsecurely--engag the threads ofthe bolt 1. The Wedge-shaped portion 6 of the locking pin 5 is adapted to have locking engagement with the screw threads of the bolt 1, the pin 5 being slidable longitudinally in the transverse hole 3 to and from locking position. A bent leaf spring 7 is fixed in the groove 4., being shown as held in place by an upsetting. at 8 of the metal of the nutagainst the median portion of the spring.l The spring 7 forms closures for the ends of the hole 3 and also,as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower end of the spring presses upward on the lower end of the Wedge pin 5 and tends to slide it into locking engagement with the' threads of the bolt,l` as shown in Fig. Q, the upper end of the spring 7 being normally out of contact with the bottom of the groove 4- (Fig. 2) to permit the locking wedge to freely move to the locking position. \Vhen the nut 2 is `rotated inf-the direction indicated by the arrow 9 (Fig. 2) the frictional contact of the threads ofthe bolt 1 with the roughened' wedgefshaped portions 6 of the Wedge pin 5 Will slide the pin 5 away from its locking position sulliciently to permit the nut to be freely screwed on, but any tendency of the nut to rotate in an opposite'direction and unscrew Will be resisted and prevented by the wedging of the wedge portion 6 against the threads of the bolt (Figs. 2 and 6). To ufnscrew the nut 2 from the bolt .1, pressure is applied to theupper end of the spring 7 to slide the locking wedge pin 5 slightly out of` contact with the threads of the bolt 1 (Figs. 3 and 7 when the nut `may be freelyrnscrewed, as indicated by the arrow 10 (Fig. 3). The locking wedge pin 5 is ,b/evled at its ends and the contact of the spring 7 with these beveled ends prevents rotation of the Wedge pin, which otherwise might occur when the nut is olf the bolt and thereby the wedge portion 6 be displaced so as not to-be in position for proper engagement with the threads of the bolt when the nut is applied thereto. The covering of the ends of the hole 3 and the exposed ends of the Wedge/pin 5 by the end portions of the flat spring 7 gives a finished appearance and prevents the entrance of dust and dirt to the `hole 3. The spring 7 also effectively guards against loss of the locking Wedge pin when the nut is not on the bolt, and nuts embodying this invention may be freely tossed about without injury and without loss of any of thc parts. The locking devices ar'e'shown as located near to the back face or inner face of the nut so that locking engagement with the screw threads of the bolt will take place without the necessity of screwing the nut far on the bolt, thereby rendering the locking devices effective in case the bolt lmay be -a trifle short `and extend only partly through the nut. This sliding :Wedge construction is very effective in its llocking function and is Very inexpensive of manufacture, more so than those constructions of the prior art in which lockvices are shown as applied to a square nut 11 instead of to a hexagonal nut, a locking wedge pin 12 being engaged by a leaf spring 13 bent substantially at right angles around the square corners of the nut 11 and located in a groove lei, occupying port-ions of two sides of the nut, the spring 13 holding the wedge `pin 12 in-place and being `h eld in place by4 airupsetting of the metal of the nut at 15. The construction and operation in other respects than as noted are substantially the same as inthe construction first described.

The modified construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 differs from that first above described, chiefly in that the locking wedge -pin 16 is formed at its top end,as shown in the vrdrawings, with a flattened extension 17 and the spring 1S cut away at its upper end to forml a' prong 19, ,which engages at t-he side of the flattened extension17 and thereby l positively prevents rotationof the Wedge pin I 16, the extension 17 ,also serving to recelve pressuredirectly to push the Wedge pin 16 to non-locking position, the upper end off the springlS lying at all times'against the bottom of the pin-receiving groove 20, as shown in Fig. 10.

The modified construction illustrated in Fig. 12 to 18, inclusive, diers chiefly from that first described in that a locking wedge pin'Ql is employed which is of circular crosssection throughout. its length and which tapers in wedge form throughout from end to end. A straight flat spring 9.2 is Carried by a squared nut 23, being countersunk in a springreceiving groove 24 and fixed therein by the upsetting at of the material of the nut, the spring22 pressing adjacent to its outer end against the larger end of the ta-` pered wedge pin 21. The wedge pin 21 is of the proper diameter to have locking engagement between two of the threads of the bolt l, as indicated at Fig. 17. When such locking pin is moved to noli-locking position as shown in Fie. 14, the taper of the pin frees the pin from ocking engagement with the threads of the bolt, as indicated at F ig. 18.` The transverse pin-receiving hole 26 extends entirely through the nut, but its diameter is small enough to prevent the tapered locking pin dropping out at the end of the hole opposite to the spring 22, the hole 26 having an enlarged portion at 27 to permit the Wedge pin21 to move to its locking position. At ,the end of the pinreceiving hole 426 opposite to the s ring 22 a cup-shaped recess 28 is provi ed, into which the smaller end of the wedge pin 21 projects when the wedge pin is at locking position (Fig. 18). Pressure applied by the finger or otherwise to the smaller end of the wedge in 21 Will slide the wedge pin 21 to non-loc ring position as shown in rF ig. 14

. This forni of the invention is more readily applicable to squared ends, as shown in the drawings. The recess 28 permits the locking pin 21 to be at all times within the planes of the outer walls of thenut and therefore prevents any accidental displace nient or injury to the locking in.

Themodication shown in ig. 19 ditfers from that last described merely in the fact that the n err-receiving recess, such ns 28, is omitted rom the nut 29 and a locking wedge pin30 is employed which is of sutiicient length to extend at its smaller end beyond the outer wall of the nut as shown in this figure. Pressure applied to the projecting end of the wedge pin 30 will push it tornon-locking position and `sucli pressure may be applied by the jaws of the wrench used to unscrew the nut.

The modification shown at Fig. 20 differs from that last described in that a locking wedge pin 31 is shown which is shorter and terminates below the plane of the outer surface of the nut 32, the metal of the nut 32 being upset at 33 'to partially close the pinreceiving hole 34 and thereby prevent the dropping outof the wedge pin 31, and therefore in this construction the pin-receiving hole 34 may be of uniform diameter throughout. The wedge pin 31 may be pushed to non-locking position by inserting a suitable implement through the reduced portion of hole 34.

The modified construction illustrated in Figs. 21 to 27, inclusive, differs from that described in reference to Figs. 12 to 18, in-

clusive, in the particular that a locking wedge 35 of rectangular cross-section, instea andv is contained in a lcorrespondingly shaped transverse wedge-receiving hole 36 in a square nut 37, the rectangular wedge 35 being grooved along one side to provide a plurality of ridges 38 adapted to have a.

'locking engagement with the screw threads of the bolt 1. The construction in other respects is 'substantially the same as described in reference to Figs. 12 to 18, in-

elusive. This last described constructiombecause of the extendin bearing surfaces, produces an especially rm and secure locking etl'ect.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 28 to 3-1, inclusive, av cylindrical wed e-re ceiving hole Bt) of `substantially uniform diameter throughout is provided in a hexagonal nut 10, but does not extend entirely through the nut, a smaller bore 41V being provided for the insertion of a suitable implement to push to non-locking position a ta )ered lockino' wedge in 42, which is of su staiitially tlie saine s ape as the lockin wedge pin 21. Figs. 12 to 18, inclusive. E substantially llat spring 43 is shown as piv- 'otally secured at one end by a headed pin 44 to a side face of the nut 40 and at 45 is prowidedtwith a rounded indentation adapted to receive the rounded projecting larger end of the wedge pin'42, which the spring 43 presses into locking engagement with the screw threads ot' the bolt 1. In this construction the spring 43 muy be swung aside, as shown in Figs. 30 and 31, to permit the removal and renewal of the wedge pin 42. Ordinarily the spring 43 is held in engagement with the outer end of the wedge pin 42 by the engagement of such outer end in the cup-shaped indentation 45.

of circular cross-section, is employed,

The modified construction illustrated in i Figs. 35 to 41, inclusive, differs from that last described in the fact that a locking wedge 46 of triangular, instead of circular, cross-section is provided and in the further fact that a wedge-receiving hole 47 of. cor responding triangular cross-section is proi vided and, for convenience of manufacture, extends ,entirely through a similarnut 48,` the inetal ofthe nut being u set at 49y to prevent loss of the locking we ge when the nut is not on the bolt 1. Two of the sides of the triangular locking wedge are adapted to have locking engagement between two o the screwthreads of the bolt 1 (Figs. 35 and 40) and are knurled, as indicated, to

form a better locking engagement with the.

.recess 47. The corners of the triangular wedge are shown as slightly rounded.\ t All ot the several kinds of locking wedges illustrated are of a self-tightening nature,

receiving hole. l

that is, when subjected to vibrations they l a spring carried by the nut tending to press i tend to keep the nut tight and will tighten it if left loose.

may be made in the constructions shown and above particularly described within the principle and scope of my invention.

- I claim:

l'. T Ihc p combination, with a screw-threaded bolt, of a screw-threaded n ut having therein a pin-receiving hole extending transversely to the bolt-receiving aperture and communicating therewith, a wedge pin freely slidable 1n the transverse hole and 'adapted to have locking' engagement between the screw threads of the bolt, one end of the wedge pin extending to the. outside ofthe nut, and a leaf spring countersunk in one of the sides of the nut and adapted to press the wedge pin toward locking position.

. 2. The combination, withascrew-threaded bolt, of a screw-threaded nut having therein a pin-receiving hole extending through the nut transversely to the bolt-receiving aperture and communicating therewith, a wedge pin freely slidable in the transverse hole and adapted to have locking engagement with the screw threads of the bolt, both ends of the wedge pin extending to the outside of the nut, and a bent leaf spring countersunk in the sides of the nut and having a median portion secured 'to the nut and having terminal ortions, one of which presses on one end oi) the wedge pin and tends to slidethe wedge lpin toward locking position and the other of which is adapted to bel pressed againstv the other end of the wedge pin to slide it to unlocked position,

such terminal portions also serving as protective coverings for the ends of the pili- 3. The combination, With a screw-threaded bolt, of a screw-threaded nut having therein a vpin-receiving hole extending transversely to the bolt-receiving aperture and communieating therewith, a Wedge pin freely slidable in the transverse hole and shaped to fit the screw-threads of the boltand adapted to have locking engagement therewith, and

thc wedge pin to locking position and havi ing means to prevent rotation of the wedge It is obvious that various modifications i pin.

4. The combination, withascrew-threaded bolt, of a screw-threaded nut having therein a round hole extending through the nut transversely to the bolt-receiving aperture and communicatingtherewith, a substantially cylindrical wedge pin freely slidable in the transverse hole and shaped at its median portion to `forni a wedge fitting between the screw threads of the boltyand adapted to have locking engagement therewith, the wedge pin terminating in beveled ends at the outside of the nut, and a bent leaf spring carried by the nut and having a portion pressing on one end of the wedge pin and tending topslide the wedge pin toward locking position and having another portion adapted to be pressed against the other end of the wedge pin to slide it to unlocked position, the contact of the spring with the beveled ends'of the wedge pin preventing rotational displacement of the wedge pin.

, 5. The combination, Withascrew-threaded bolt, of a screw-threaded nut having therein a pin-receiving hole extending transversely to the bolt-receiving aperture and communicating therewith, a wedge pin freely slidable in the transverse hole and shaped to fit between the screw threads of the bolt so as to have locking engagement therewith, and a flat spring secured -to the nut and having a free portion in the path ofy the wedge pin and arranged to press the Wedge pin towardloclring position, means other than the securing means being provided for maintaining the spring in the path of the Wedge pin when the wedgepin is in locking position.

In testimony whereof I have afixed my Witnesses:

WM. ASHLEY KELLY, BERNARD Cowen.

im f k 

